Giancarlo Francesco Colombo

One Year In The Light

May 30, 2006

Music means different things to different people. Some of us find our music in a wave upon sand and the sea on the shore. For others it is in the clear sound of the lark or in the beating of drums or perhaps in the tapping of feet in the flamenco. Different sounds appeal to each of us in different ways. Giancarlo and I shared a love of jazz. I never knew Giancarlo, but I’ve had the privilege this past year of learning about him from his mother and his friends.

Perhaps that is why musicians are so popular. Maybe it’s because they play on our hearts' chords as they play on their instruments.

So it was with Giancarlo. His music called each one of us in a different way. Giancarlo was a sensitive musician. He loved his own kind of music of course, but he had a respect and admiration of all other kinds as well. He enjoyed nothing more than an informal session with fellow artists, playing simply for the kick they got out of their songs and tunes. He loved to improvise to play something in a new chord, a different key. Giancarlo spent his whole life, it seems, looking for that famous lost chord.

Giancarlo leaves a legacy of joy in the music he shared with others, of long chats with friends, of his insight into the world around him. He was a deep soul, a passionate person, for him perfection was the goal in life. What life had yet to teach him was that none of us are perfect.

Giancarlo was lively and light-hearted. He was always happy to meet new people, add something new to his life. Yet he had his quiet moments when he withdrew into himself and into the music he loved so much. He was a feeler, all of the great creative masters had deep feelings. He was among the best.

Giancarlo has traveled many hearts. He has touched so many lives even in his passing that he will never truly be gone.

There is a saying that says “music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”. So it was with Giancarlo’s music. His passion became our passion, his joy our joy and even his pain is now our pain.

Giancarlo, though, was also a person who had other attributes that had nothing to do with music. He was kind and generous and he enjoyed a laugh. He was always willing to do you a good turn. He had a genuine interest in people and what they did with their lives. It didn't really matter to him whether they knew a b flat from a c sharp. He was good with children and loved making a difference in the lives of others. Giancarlo always believed that if you were lucky enough to have a gift you should share it.

Yes, the loss of Giancarlo has affected us deeply, even I am moved by this young man and inspired to create a better world for others. Many years ago, when I was a young woman, I also, demanded a lot from myself. Life seemed to come at me and I sometimes felt at a loss with my feelings. I wasn’t sure which direction I should go in. I’m grateful that someone reached out to me and showed me that there was light beyond the darkness. I wish I could have done that for Giancarlo.

He’s no longer with us physically, but he’s in every balloon you send off, every tear you shed, every laugh you share and every hug you give.

And when you look up at the sky at night he’s standing out from all the rest, he’s the guiding light home, he is lighting the path we all should follow.

We love you, Giancarlo. Thank you for all the lessons you’ve taught us.